Pirates complete sweep of Hawks

Get off to best start since 2004
By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
GREENVILLE -- Trent Ashcraft picked a good time to break out of his early-season slump. After starting the season 0-for-11, the senior blooped a two-run, two-out, bases-loaded single to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth.
The hit highlighted a five-run inning that helped push the East Carolina Pirates (3-0) past the Monmouth Hawks (0-3), 9-2, on a chilly, sunny Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The win, coming in front of 2,592 fans, gave the Pirates the sweep and got the team off to its best start since 2004 (the team started 12-0 that year).
“I thought our pitching was good all weekend,” fourth-year coach Billy Godwin said. “I thought we played great defense. (Sunday) we got timely hits and busted the game open.
“I thought our guys came in focused. We were able to get a lot of guys in, get some different looks and move some guys around. I thought it was a very positive weekend.”
Ryan Wood (1-3, 2 RBIs) tacked on a two-run double and Stephen Batts (4-5, 2 RBIs) added an RBI-single in the five-run sixth inning to give the Pirates a 7-2 advantage.
Kyle Roller (2-3) led off with an infield single. Drew Schieber (2-3) reached on a bunt single and Trent Whitehead (0-1, run) drew a one-out intentional walk to load the bases. One out later, Ashcraft (1-5, 2 RBIs) collected his first hit of the season.
“I was just fortunate that I could get a pitch that I could hit, and be able to put it out there somewhere where they weren’t able to make a play on it,” said Ashcraft, ECU’s leadoff hitter. “It felt good, definitely.”
Wood followed with his two-bagger and Batts rapped his third hit of the game for the five-run lead.
Most of the damage came off Monmouth reliever Tim Ballard (0-1), who surrendered six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The Pirates collected double-digit hits for the third straight day, finishing with 12. Batts led the way with his second four-hit day and finished with nine hits over the weekend.
“It feels great,” Batts said of his hot start. “It’s a good start.”
Monmouth took a 1-0 lead in the first. Brett Holland hit a leadoff single and raced into third on Chris Collazo’s (3-4) single. Nick Pulsonetti’s (2-3, RBI) sac fly scored Holland for the early lead.
ECU tied it in the fourth. Batts hit a one-out triple into right, breaking up John McDonald’s no-hitter. Brandon Henderson’s sharp single into left plated Batts.
McDonald gave up just the one run and two hits in his four innings of work.
Batts came through again in the fifth. Ashcraft reached on a throwing error and went to second on Wood’s sacrifice. Batts followed with an RBI-single into center, giving the Pirates a 2-1 advantage.
The Hawks tied it in the top of the sixth, chasing ECU starter Mike Anderson (two runs on six hits, four strikeouts, two walks in 5 1/3 innings) in the process. Tim McEndy and Ryan Terry had consecutive singles, which ended Anderson’s day.
Mike Casale greeted reliever Sthil Sowers with an RBI-single that knotted the game, 2-2.
Sowers (1-0) went 1 2/3 innings of relief and was credited with the win. The sophomore struck out one and gave up three hits.
The Pirates tacked on some insurance runs in the late innings. Jared Avchen’s sac fly in the seventh made it 8-2, while Jonathan Ratledge’s groundout plated another run in the eighth to cap the scoring.
ECU’s late relievers were effective. Bailey Daniels struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth. Joe O’Malley retired all three batters he faced to close it out, capping off the sweep.
‘These guys understand the importance of every game,” Godwin said. “(The sweep) is huge for your confidence. There were a lot of positives this weekend.”
The Pirates return to Clark-LeClair Stadium on Thursday to face No. 13 Oklahoma State in a 5 p.m. game.
ECU then plays host to the 6th Annual Keith LeClair Classic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Pirates face St. John’s on Friday, Oklahoma State on Saturday and College of Charleston on Sunday.

6th Annual Keith LeClair Classic
Friday’s Games
1 p.m. - College of Charleston vs. Oklahoma State
5 p.m. - St. John’s vs. East Carolina
Saturday’s Games
11 a.m. - St. John’s vs. College of Charleston
3 p.m. - Oklahoma State vs. East Carolina
Sunday’s Games
10 a.m. - Oklahoma State vs. St. John’s
2 p.m. - College of Charleston vs. East Carolina